Map

Start:

Brimham Rocks car park - SE 2085 6458

1

Brimham Rocks to North Pasture (1.2 km / 0.75 miles)
From the car park, follow the main track towards
the visitor centre. Facing the visitor centre, take the
tarmac road to the left and take the path around
and behind the visitor centre heading towards the
rock formation known as the Dancing Bear.
Keep following this path with the Dancing Bear on
your right. After 100m or so, forward and to your left you’ll see
the rock formation known as the Druids' Writing
Desk, and then to your right, a few metres off the
path, the Idol with its extraordinary balancing act.
Shortly after passing the Idol be sure to stop and look to the left for the beautiful panoramic views across Upper Nidderdale.
As the path reaches open moor land, (SE 2075 6531 / 54.0832 -1.6843) bear left following the path down into a gulley.
Follow the gulley path down to a farm track bedside North Pasture and turn left.

Panoramic views across NidderdaleMalcolm Secrett

2

Section 2 (SE 2088 6551 / 54.0850 -1.6823)
North Pasture to Fell Beck (1.3 km / 0.8 miles)
Follow the farm track, and when you get to gate straight ahead pass through it then 50 m or so further on at a second gate take the footpath to the right across a pasture. Over the stile, turn left and continue for about 60 m to another stile on the left – just before the track bends around to the right. Over this stile and cross the pasture diagonally to the stile and wall ladder. Walk along the edge of the next pasture keeping the wall on your left. Cross into the next large pasture
over a stile and follow the fence line, keeping the fence on your right.
Go over the next stile and follow the rutted path across two more pastures still with the fence on your right. Continue downhill until you reach the stile at Fell Beck.

Woodlands and Waterfalls - Section 2Malcolm Secrett

3

Section 3 (SE 1968 6538 / 54.0839, -1.7005)
Fell Beck to Smelthouses (1.5 km /0.94miles)
Cross the stile - don’t cross the bridge - and turn left. After a short winding climb, at a fork take
the right hand path signposted Smelthouses.
Continue to a stile through a wall and continue straight on for about 300 paces to where a path
forks to the right downhill - you’ll recognise it by the 1 metre square stone right in the middle
of it!
Follow the path downhill to reach Fell Beck and bear left downstream. About 100 paces past a
brick building on the right, cross the beck on the footbridge and turn left. Ahead there’s one
place where the path is quite narrow and rutted alongside a steep drop down to the beck, take
special care here.
When you reach the road turn left and follow the road for about 90 m. You’ll pass over Fell
Beck on the road bridge, and shortly after on the right you’ll see a bridleway beside a letterbox
signposted to Low Laithe.

Woodlands and Waterfalls - Section 3Malcolm Secrett

4

Section 4 (SE 1923 6425 / 54.0738, -1.7074)
Smelthouses to River Nidd (0.7 km / 0.4 miles)
Follow the bridleway keeping straight on where the track forks left to Knox Hall. (Remember
the track though, we’ll be heading towards Knox Hall on the way back.) At the road go straight
across to the sign posted public footpath – ignoring any signs saying ‘Private’ – and then down
the grassy slope.
Follow the path over the beck on a wooden footbridge and continue over a stile to the bank of
the river Nidd. Stand and stare for a bit, imagine those tiny grains of sandstone from Brimham
Rocks being carried by Fell Beck into the Nidd, being caught by the river’s current which will
carry some of them all the way to the Humber estuary.

Woodlands and Waterfalls - Section 4Malcolm Secrett

5

Section 5 (SE 1885 6389 / 54.0705, -1.7134)
River Nidd to Smelthouses (1.1 km / 0.7 miles)
Retrace your steps back the across the road and follow the tarmac road called Low Laithe. In about 100m turn right towards Knox Hall. Follow the path along
the side of the Hall, past a garage and along the edge of some woodland. On emerging from the wood turn left onto Old Coach Road. Look out for alpacas and
goats in the fields to the right. Continue uphill, and on reaching a road turn left and about 50 m on the right you’ll see a public bridleway signed 'Brimham'.

6

Section 6 (SE 1947 6421 / 54.0734, -1.7040)
Smelthouses to Brimham Rocks (1.9 km / 1.2 miles)
Walk up the bridleway and after about 250m at the tiny cottage “Artists' Retreat” turn right to
follow the footpath signed 'Brimham'.
Continue on this path until you reach a gate with a road 50 m ahead. Head up the rising
ground immediately on your left and follow the path by the wall until you reach a farm track,
turn right and after 60 m you’ll reach the entrance to Brimham Rocks and the car park.
This might be a good time to head up to the refreshments kiosk for a well earner cuppa and
a bit to eat.